Loneliness has led me to masturbation

Since I don’t find relationships interesting, I consider myself a loner. But lately, depression has taken over me and to overcome this, I resort to masturbation. Sometimes I lose count of the number of times I engage in the act. But once I’m done, I feel guilty of not being ‘normal’ like others. More than health and related things, I think I’m worried about whether I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and never get out of this loop. I want to be cool like fellow students but that doesn’t seem possible with my nature.— Anant

Illustration/ Amit Bandre

Dear Anant, You seem to be the Vicky Donor of real life. The film character sold his sperms and made a fast buck. But you seem to be wallowing in self-pity! You are lonely and bored, so you masturbate. Why don’t you pursue a hobby or learn a new craft? This will also help you make friends. There are many ways to kill time in Mumbai even if you don’t have much to do in life. Visit a mall, watch a film, enroll yourself in a library. Being lonely does not spell masturbation. Get out of your stupor and do something more fruitful.